Dita's Travel Essentials

I'm not a huge fan of Dita Von Teese, but I know a lot of you are.  I love her style, and her classic beauty, I'm just not a fan of her career choice, but that's another conversation.  I've mentioned before that I saw her at the Rose Bowl swap meet once, and she is just as beautiful and stunning in person.  

W Magazine asked her to share her travel essentials, since she's on the go so much.  I love what she shared.  Check it out.

"I use all Globe-Trotter suitcases; they look chic and classic.  Most of my burlesque costumes travel in Globe-Trotter cases that are color-matched to each outfit."--Dita Von Teese

"Marc Jacobs sent me this Louis Vuitton hatbox when I was performing at Vuitton parties in Paris and Las Vegas."--Dita Von Teese

"This diary is Smythson--I get all my journals and datebooks there.  I like to write about travels, and I find it very useful to look back on what I wrote to see where I was both geographically and emotionally.  I always keep it in a locked safe, because, as Mae West once said, 'Keep a diary, and someday it may keep you.'"--Dita Von Teese

"I write a lot of thank-you notes--and love letters when I have someone special in my life.  I adore very fine papers, which I have custom made for me, and I write with my Montblanc fountain pen, which has burgundy, rose-scented ink."--Dita Von Teese

"I wear opera-length leather gloves with just about everything--I love fetishistic elegance."--Dita Von Teese

"It's perfectly acceptable to touch up your makeup at the dinner table if you have a gorgeous powder compact.  This one is from the forties and different fashions of the era pictured on it.  It's quite a large compact--the size of the puff always gets comments!"--Dita Von Teese

"I always have at least three red lipsticks in my handbag--usually a bright red, a cherry red, and a deep ruby red.  This is one of my favorites, Dior Roulette Red."--Dita Von Teese

All images and quotes courtesy of W Magazine

Burlesque

There are so many great movies coming up, I can't wait! Of course my favorite is Harry Potter, but is anyone else excited like I am about Burlesque? I cannot wait to see Cher in all her fabulousness, with full makeup, costumes, and shimmer! The film comes out Thanksgiving day, so I think I will have to make a run for it after I have my turkey!

Here are some shots of the film. Are you as excited as I am? Have a great Monday friends!

Dita Von Teese

I have mixed feelings about Dita Von Teese. I think she is absolutely gorgeous and represents classic vintage beauty, but don't know if I like the burlesque image she creates for herself. I'm a little torn. I love her style, and she photographs very well. I realized I didn't know much about her, so I did some research and this is what I found:

Von Teese was born Heather Renee Sweet in 1972. Her mother was a manicurist and her father a machinist. She is mostly of Armenian descent, which surprised me. Von Teese is well known for her fascination with 1940s cinema and classic retro style. This began at a young age and was fostered by her mother, who would buy clothes for her daughter to dress up in. Her mother was a fan of old, Golden-era Hollywood films, and it was from her that Von Teese developed a fascination with the actresses of that day, especially Betty Grable.

She was a ballerina, but stopped training at age 15, saying she was as good as she was ever going to be. She now incorporates some of her ballet moves into her burlesque routines.

Her family moved from Michigan to Orange County, CA. where Von Teese attended University High School in Irvine.

Von Teese began her career in a local strip club when she was eighteen. Disappointed with the lack of originality in all the other strippers' acts, Von Teese created a vintage-inspired outfit, with beehive hairstyle and elbow-length gloves coupled with a basque and seamed stockings, piquing the interest of the clientele.

Because of her frequent wear of corsets, she was able to reduce her waist to a size 22", and she can lace it down to about a 16'5". She has posed for playboy 3 times.

Von Teese is best known for her burlesque routines and is frequently dubbed "the Queen of Burlesque" in the press. Von Teese began performing burlesque in 1993 and, as a proponent of New Burlesque, has helped to popularize its revival. In her own words, she "puts the tease back into striptease" with long, elaborate dance shows with props and characters, often inspired by 1930s and 1940s musicals and films.

Her famed beauty mark is not real, but was tattooed on her face. Here are some images of her. Enjoy!